Packing For Self-Storage - Part 2

Additional packing and storage preparation tips:

If you're storing upholstered products such as mattresses and sofas in a self-storage facility it might be a good idea to invest in covers, bags or sheeting to give them some additional protection. Stand sofas and mattresses on end wherever possible to save space and don't stack too much on top of soft furnishings. Mattresses are best stored on the long end and should be ideally raised above floor level or laid on protective sheeting.

If you're storing a few items of furniture on top of each other a simple dust sheet or cover placed between items will minimize scratching and damage in a self-storage facility.

You'll save space if you can dismantle furniture such as beds and tables before you store it in a self-storage facility - make sure you keep hold of all the bits so you can get it all back together again! Wrap and cover furniture sections and keep them together, clearly marked, for quick retrieval. You can put components such as screws and bolts together in a plastic bag, mark them clearly and tape to the relevant piece of furniture. Store large pieces of furniture vertically to save space in the facility.

Chairs can be stacked seat to seat to save space. Cover chair legs with protective wrapping for extra protection.

Spray your wood furniture with a good quality furniture spray before storing it in the facility to give it some added protection.

Electrical equipment such as TVs, stereos and computers should be packed in their original boxes wherever possible. If this isn't possible, pack them into boxes that are about the right size making sure that you pack gaps with paper etc. Make sure you tie down the player arm of a record player and secure your turntable.

If you're storing items with fuel tanks such as lawn mowers and cars etc in a facility, expect to be asked to drain the tanks before you put them in storage. Fuel is one of the few things that you CANNOT store in a self-storage facility.

Wipe down metal objects and tools with a little oil before storing to avoid rust formation.

You can tie tools and long-handled items in bundles. Don't store a brush resting on the bristles.

Don't store vacuum cleaners with the bag in - throw it away before you store them in the facility.

Treat leather items with a leather conditioner before you store them.

Think hard about whether you really want to store photographs in a self-storage facility. If you do store loose photographs, place them between pieces of clean cardboard and tape them together to avoid curling. Photographs will suffer temperature damage and, if the facility you have chosen is not climate controlled, you might want to keep them out of storage to avoid losing them.

Think creatively and you'll make more space. Plan to use furniture drawers as an extra box (they are especially good for fragile items) and you can use the inside of wardrobes to store boxes. Kitchen appliances such as stoves and fridges can also be used in this way.

Seal all your boxes with packing tape before you put them in a self-storage facility - this will help keep dust out of the contents.